Machine for making hollow rivets



A c. R. NICHOLS, JR., ET AL l2,403,297

MACHINE FORv MAKING HOLLOW RIVETS July 2 1946.'

Filed Jan. 4, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l v July 2, 1946- c. R. NICHOLS, JR,ET AL 2,403,297

I MACHINE FOR MAKING HOLLOW RIVETS Filed Jan. 4, V1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS (2m/ues f?. /V/wazsJ/'. BY ias/Mezz July 2, 1946- c. R.NICHOLS, JR., ET AL 2,403,297

MACHINE FOR MAKING HOLLOW RIVETS Filed Jan. 4, 1945 l s sheets-sheet 5INVENTORS NNN. B ...@Q

Patented July 2, 1946 MACHINE FOR MAKING HOLLOW RIVETS Charles R..Nichols, Jr., Jersey CityN.` J., and Roswell H. Simpson, Staten Island,N. Y., as signors to `Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, Jersey City, N. J.,a. corporation of New Jersey Application January 4, 1945, Serial No.571,336 Y 12 Claims. l

This invention relates to a machine for making hollow rivets.

More particularly stated, the invention relates to a machine -forforming or making hollow rivets from a strip of fiber or plastic sheetmaterial.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple, practical andefficient machine for forming a strip of fiber or plastic material intoa hollow tube, cutting the tube to a predetermined length, and headingover one end of theA tube to form a hollow rivet.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecication taken in connection with the drawings which form a part ofthis application, and in which I Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partlyinV section, of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a. sectional detail Aelevation illustrating the tube feedingmeans;

for holding the tube Vin this position during the heading operation, andmeans for ejecting the nished hollow rivet after the tube has beenheaded over. For each reciprocation all three of these operations areperformed, the carrier being provided with a plurality of peripherallyspaced dies for receiving the tube and for holding the tube duringsuccessive operations. Further details of the invention will appear fromthe 10 following description.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings, the machine comprises a. base 2u, a frame 2| extendingupwardly therefrom, and a table or plate22 supported on lthe frame 2|.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line3-3 of Fig. 2, looking lin the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation ofthe heating tank in which the strip ofmaterial is heated prior to the formation of the strip andtube;

Fig. L5 is` a detail' sectional elevation taken substantially on line5-5 of Fig. `1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View, partly in section, taken at right anglesto Fig. 1 and showing the operative connections for movingthe tubecutting saw into and out of operative relation to the tube;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the carrierinto which the tube is fed and in which the tube is formed intol arivet,this view illustrating the ejector plunger in its forward position in'which the rivet has been ejected from the carrier; 1

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showingv the tube feeding andpositioning plunger in its forward position in which the tube has beenproperly positioned for the heading operation; and l Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8 but showing the anvil or header in its operativeposition in which the head has been formed in the hollow tube, thusforming the rivet.

The invention briefly described consists of a machine having means forheating and softening a strip of fiber or plastic material, means forfolding the strip into a tube, means for cutting the strip to apredetermined length, and means for intermittently feeding the tube to acarrier and for heading over the tube in the carrier. The reciprocatingstrip feeding means also has operable in conjunction therewith, meansfor positioning the severed tube in the carrier and The strip S of beror plastic material passes through a tank 23 supported on the table 22and having inletand outlet pipes 24 and 25 connected thereto` forconducting steam or a suitable heating medium to and from the tank 23. Aportion of the peripheral surface ofthe tank 23 is slit, as

shown at 26, to permit the strip S to pass through the Wall of the tank.This slit is closed by an rendering it flexible. From the tank thestrip` passes through a suitable foldingl die which 0 has heating means3| to partially dry the strip The die 30 y during its passage throughthe die. folds the strip into a tube T.

The tube Tis fed intermittently by feeding 40 ,Tube feeding, positioningand rivet effecting means rihe reciprocatable mechanism forintermittently feeding the tube T comprises a block 40 which is slidablymounted in guideways 4| and :42 which are secured by screws 43 to thetable 'or support 22. The Vblock V4? has a recess 44 formedbetweenportons 45 and 45, the recess 44 receiving the upper end of alever which is pivotally mounted at fil' and has an upwardly extendingarm 48 5-OJand a downwardly extending arm 43. The arm' 49 carries aroller 56 which is disposed in the caml groove of a `cam 5| mounted on ashaft 52Which is supported in suitable bearings 53 and 54. As

5 the shaft 52 is rotated, the cam 5| will oscillate 1 lthe lever andwill cause the arm 48 thereof to reciprocate the block 4D and partscarried there.-

lThe shaft 52 can bedriven inany s"uitable man; 6011er and, as shown, isprovided with a pulley 55 means will now be described. Y

' Y The link 68 has a rearwardly extending arm f 66 having formedthereon on its rear end, viewingjFig. 2, a beveled upwardly extendingtooth 8 I.

which is connected to any suitable source of n The block 66 has securedthereto and disposed thereabove, a T-shaped block 59 having laterallyextending portions 66 and 6| and an upwardly extending portion 62. `Theportion 62 and the Y' central portion .of the block 59 have a verticallyextending recess 63 therein. the recess 63 there is secured a b ar B4having upwardly extending teeth 65. Above the ,bar "64 there is mounteda bar 66 which' is supported on links 6'! and 66 mounted on pivots 69.and 10,

which in turn are mounted in vthe portion 62. The lower end of the bar66 is provided with teeth lli. The bar 66 is normai-ly held in itslowermost position on the links 26'1 ahd-68 by a spring T5 which issecured to -a fixed pin V'i6 carried by the portion "62 and to -a stud11 which is threaded into the upper portion of the Vbar 66.

The tube T passes between the bars 64 and 66 and during the movement ofthe block 4B and of the T-shaped block 5-9 carried thereby to the right,viewingV Fig. 2, the tube T will be fed forwardly through thesupportfS-Sjand into one of the dies or cylindrical supporting tubes 3dcarried bythe carrier wheel 36.v

In the bottom ofl 4 severs the tube.

In this manner, as soon as the tube has been fed into one of the dies64, the saw 96 is pulled downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and6 and The length of the tube severed is determined by the adjustment ofthe feeding j mechanism above described.

intermittently rotated in timed relation to the operation of thereciprocating feeding mechanism above described, so thatv the dies '34will be properly positioned to receive the advance end .of the tube Tand that the wheelwill be'in a position '.of

rest as the tube is fed forwardly into thel die; Moreover, the feedingmovement of .the wheel 'is so'determined that each movement will moveone y die 36 into receiving position or,l in' other words,

Means is provided for determining the lextent offeed of the tube or, 'inother words, the length ofthe tubewhich is fed 'into the die Se. Thisfor each increment of movement of the/Wheel 36 the wheel will be rotatedthrough an 'arc coextensive with the distance between successive dies.

The reciprocating movement of the blocks '46 K Vand '59 not only feedsthe tube T into one of 'the Thetcoth 8| is adapted to engage a beveledend 82 of a cylindrical'feed control member 33 which is carried by athreaded screw 64 adjustably mounted in a threaded sleeve 85 4carried bya bracket S6 which is supported onY the Stable 22. The screw 8:3 has ahead t7 and by turning the head the screw can be adjusted in the sleeve85, thus determining theposition 'of the cylindrical control member `86.v

During the retracting movement of -the block "56 and block 66 the tooth81 will engage 'the vfeed control member 83 'and will be depressed, thusswinging the link 68 .infan anti-clockwise direction and lifting the bar66 out ofjengagementwith the tube T. During thel movement ofthe block inthe opposite direction, or to the right, viewing Fig. 2, thefeedingiengagement Ibetween the barfeand the tube will take place whenthe vtooth SI isreleased from engagement `with the surface of thecontrol member 83. Thus the amount "of feed kof Vthe ytube T isdetermined by the adjustment vof' the screw .86 and of the cylindricalfeed controlmember 63 carried thereby. I Y

The tube T is fed in a manner above described wheel 36. "Thereupon theforward end of the tube is severed by a rotary vsaw 90 which is mountedin suitable bea-rings carried by a bracket 91, whichl in turny isVvertically slidable in suitable Aguideways 62 Acarried by Aa support96.y The saw 96 is into one ofthe supports or dies 34 carried bythe Ydriven by a belt 9:1, which in turn is driven by a motor M mounted on avbracket 95.

The bracketrl is vertically reciprocated in timed relationV to thereciprocating feeding mechanism above described and this is accomplishedby means of a cam 96 carried by the shaft 52 and having aY cam groove 97in which is mounted a rol1er93 carried by an arm 99. The arm 99 issecured to a stub shaft '|66 which is mounted lin suitable bearings and4has also secured thereto an arm |0| lwhich isjpivoted at lll2'to a link|63, the .upper endwof which is pivoted at164 to the bracket 9|.

dies vbut also simultaneously positions the tube last fed into the dieand vejec'ts 'a .finished rivet from another die.

AThe laterally extending portions 'ce andjei have adjustably mountedtherein, threaded studs .126?

land |2'|. Each of thesestuds has threaded thereon, at the ends thereof,lock nuts |22 and l 2.3 which are adapted to lock the studs in .thedesired adjusted position in the opening through the ex- Each stud hasa'notch .'ii'ratY the rear end thereof Vto facilitate the adjustment Ytension 66 or 6|.

of the stud.

The .studs |26 and '|'2i1have projecting out wardly therefrom .andcarried thereby, plungers.

|25 and |26. The plunger |25., as .shown in'Fig. 7,.

vacts as an ejector to eject the .finished .rivet from the die 34 bywhich itlis carried. The plunger.v |26, as shown .in'Figs "8 and 9,.serves toposition the severed 'tube in the die Se Yand .by adjustingthe stud l2|wh`ich carries this plunger the position of adjustment .ofthesevered tube can be` accurately determined. y Obviously., .thisadjust-V ment must be changed for diierent lengths -of tube. In additionto positioning the tube in the proper position forv theheadingppera'tion, .the plunger"|26, as shown in*F-ig..'.9, .acts .as aback support for the tube and'ho'lds 'the tube fin position Vduring the.formation of the 'headTH thereon.

Heading .mechanism The head is formed y*on the tube in the follow-V ingmanner. The heading mechanism comprises a reciprocable heading plunger|36 which 'is adjustably mounted in a sleeve 13| vsl'idable inbearings|32 and |33. Theplunger E66 has a threaded end |34 which is threadedinto a threadediopening |35 in the sleeve v|31 and a lock nut |36 isprovided *to 'lock the plunger in adjusted position j inthe sleeve. Theysleeve |31 has ,laterally pro.-

jecting therefrom, lugs |46 and vHH between; which are positioned thebifurcated -upper ends ofan arm '|42 of a lever mounted ona1;ivot.|'t3.and j having a downwardly extending arm I 4.4 ,provided y witharoller I 45 .disposed in a groove d6 off a cam f |41 mounten on theshader. '.As the lever is oscillated the plunger |36" will Ybelrec'iproc'ated" and alternately moved to operative and inoperativeposition. i

From the showing in Figs. 1 and 9 it will be noted that the operativeend of the plunger |36 has a centrally disposed, longitudinallyprojecting extension |48 dimensioned to enter the end of the tubepositioned and held in the die 34. Surrounding the base of the extension|48 is an annular groove |49 suitably fonmed to form a rounded head onthe hollow rivet H, in the manner shown in Fig. 9.

At the same time that the tube is headed over to forni a hollow rivet inone of the dies 34 of the carrier Wheel 36, a finished rivet is ejectedby the plunger |25 from another of the dies 34. This finished rivet hastravelled substantially 360 Yfrom the position in which the headwasformed thereon. In order to make this clear, the position in whichthehollow tube is cut off is shown in Fig. 6- at A, theposition in whichthe tube is headed over is shown at B, and the position in which thefinished rivet is ejected is shown at C. It is important that aconsiderable period of time elapse from the formation of the rivet tothe ejection thereof from the die since the rivet should be permitted tocool and set so that the split tube which forms the rivet will not openlup.

If desired, the' slit in the tube and in the rivet can be sealed bysuitable adhesive mechanism and also, in order to facilitate the dryingand setting operation, the wheel 36 can be heated in any suitablemanner. Y

Summary of operationl From the foregoing description it willV be clearthat the machine described operates in the following manner. The striplS is softened and rendered flexible during its passage through the tank23 and is then folded into a tube T and'is fed intermittently by thereciprocating feeding mech- A plungers and the feed of the tube andplungers.

The ejected rivets .drop into a chute |50 by means of which they areconducted downwardly to a receptacle or drawer |5I.

Although one specic embodiment of the invention has been particularlyshown and described it will be understood that the invention is capableof modification and that changes in the construction and in thearrangement of the various cooperating parts may be madewithoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine for making hollow rivets comprising means for forming atube of fiber or plastic material, means for intermittently feeding saidtube, a carrier, a plurality of cylindrical tube supports on saidcarrier disposed in a position to receive the fed tube, means forsevering a predetermined length from the advance end of the tube afterit has been fed into one of the .tube supports on Vthe carrien'meansengageable withltl'iejiseverd it'ube .for` positioning, and holding thetube for the heading operation, means for forming a headron the advanceend of the tube so held, a source of power, and operative drivingconnections from said source of power to said carrier, said tubefeedingmeans, 1

saidtube severing means, said tube positioning andi-holding means andsaid head forming tic material, means for intermittently feeding saidtube, a carrier, a plurality of cylindrical tube supports on saidcarrier disposed in a position to receivethe fed tube, means forsevering a predetermined length from the advance end .of .the 'tubeafter it has been fed into one of the tube supports on the carrier,means engageable with the severed tube for positioning and holding thetube for the heading operation, means for forming a head on the advanceend of the tube so held, means for ejecting the headed tube from thecarrier tube support, a source of power, and operative drivingconnections from said power source to said carrier, said tube'` feedingmeans, said tube severing means, said tube positioning ,and holdingmeans, said head forming means and said ejecting means, said connectionsbeing synchronized to operate said several means in proper timedrelation.

3. In a machine for making hollow rivets comprising means for forming atube of fiber or plastic material, adjustable means for intermittentl lyfeeding said tube, a carrier, a plurality of cylindrical tube supportson said carrier disposed in a position to receive lthe fed tube, meansfor l severinga predetermined length from the advance end of the tubeafter it has been fed into one of the tube supports on the carrier,adjustable means engageable with the severed tube for positioning andholding the tube for the heading operation, means for forming a head onthe advance end of the tube so held, a source of power, and operativedriving connections from said source of power to said carrier, said tubefeeding means, said tube severing means, said tube positioning andholding means and said head forming means, said connections beingsynchronized to operate said several means in proper timed relation.

4. In a machine for making hollow rivets comprising means for forming atube of ber or plastic material, means for intermittently feeding saidtube, a rotatable carrier, a plurality of concentrically arranged,peripherally spaced cylin- Y drical tube supportson said carrierdisposedin a position to receive the fed tube, means for severing apredetermined length from the advance end of the tube after it has beenfed into one of the tube supports on the carrier, meansv engageable withthe severed tube for positioning and holding Ythe tube for the headingoperation,

means for forming a head on .the advance end ering the advance end ofsaidtube, means for positioning the previously-severed Alengthof .tubein another of the tube supports and holding said length of, tube ,fortheheading operation, means for. forming a head onthe tube length scheld,V

means for ejecting from `another tubeY support 5 l on the carrier aheaded tube Vpreviously' formed,

a source of power, and operative driving 'connections from said powersource to said carrier, vsaid l tube feeding means, said` tubeseveringlmeans, Said .tube positioning and holding means, said headforming means and said .ejecting means, said connections beingsynchronized temperate sai y several meansin .proper timed relation, 3

6. InV a machine for -making hollow rivets, a movable "carrier, aplurality ci equally spacedf tube supports'on said carrier, areciprocatable member, means carried by '.saidmeinber ,ior'ieeding atubeto one of the tube supports, meansior severing the advance end of saidtube, means carried by the reciprocatable member for Vposition-v ing thepreviously severed lengthV of tube in an-J other of the vtube vsupportsand holding `said length of tube forthe heading operation, means forforming a head on the tube length scheld, means carriedv by saidnscipnocatable member for ejecting. from another tube support on theCarrier a headed tube previously formed, a source synchronized; to.operate saidr several means Vin proper timed relation. V

9. In a machine for forming hollow rivets,

tube feeding means comprising a reciprooatable-` block, a gripping barengageable with the tube,

means for moving the bar 'downwardly/into. eeding engagementV with thetube, and adjustable means for holding said gripping bar out orYoperative position, thereby determining the length or tube fed. Y

l0. In a machine for making hollow rivets, a movable carrier, aplurality of equally spaced tube supports on said carrier, means forfeedingi a tube tooneof the tube supports, means for severing theadvance end'oi said tube, means for positioning the previously severedlength of. tube in another of the tubesupports and holdi-A ing saidlength of tube for the heading operation,Y

means for formingV a head cn'the tube length so held, means for ejectingfrom another tube support on the carrier a headed 'tube previouslyformed, said tube feedingv means, tube positioning means and tubeejecting means being operof power, andoperative driving.ccnnections'lfrom f.

said power source to said carrier, said .tubefeeding means, said tube.severing means, saidr tube positioning and holdingvmeans, said. headform-` ing means and said ejecting means, said. con

nections being synchronized to operate said .sev-

eral means in proper timed relation..

7, In a machinefor making hollowV rivets, a

' movable carrier, a plurality .of Vequally lspaced the tube length soheld, means for ejecting from another tube support yon the carrier aheaded tube previously formed, a source of power, vand operative drivingconnections from said power source to said carrier, saldi tube feedingmeans., said tube severing means, said tube positioning and holdingmeans, said head forming means r and said ejecting means, saidconnections being synchronized to loperate said several means vin propertimed relation.

8. In aymachine for making'hollow rivets, a

movable carrier, a plurality of :equally 'spaced if tube supports onsaid carrier, a reciprocatable member, adjustable means carried by saidmember for feeding a tube to one of the tube supports, means forsevering said tube, adjustable means :carried by theY Y11eciprocatablemember for positioning the previously severed length of tube in 'another-of the for the heading operation, meansior forming a head'on the tubelength so held, and means carried 'by said reciprocatable-membier forejecting from another tube supportpon the carrier aheaded tubepreviously formed,'asource' of power, andoperative driving-connectionsfrom saidpowerscurce to said carrier, said tube feeding means, said tubesevering means, said ktube positioning and said ejecti'ngmeans, Ysaidr-connexitions being the advance end ofV able simultaneously, a sourceof power, and OP' erative driving connections' from said rpower sourcelto said carrier, said tube feeding means,` Said tube severing rmeans,said tube positioning 'and holding means, said head forming means andsaid ejecting means, said connections "being synchronized to operate'said several Vmeans in proper timed relation.`

11j In' 'a machine for' making 'hollownrivetaa movable carrier, apluralityof removable, equal-l ly spaced tube supports cn saldi-carrier,means for feeding a tube toone of .the 'f tubesuppor-ts, meansforsevering the'advance'end ofisaidvtube,

means for positioning .the vpreviously ,severed V length of tube inanother ofthe-tube supports.Jv and holding said length of tube for Avtheheading operation, means for forming a head on thetube length so held,meansjior .ejecting from another tube support 0n the carrier a headedvtube lpreviously formed, a source of power, and operative drivingconnections from said power `source to said carrier, said tube feedingmeans, said tube severing means, saidtube positioning and hold-Y ingmeans, said head vforming means and saidY ejecting means, saidconnections being synchronized to operate said several means in proper.timed relation, f 'Y l2. In a machine for making hollow rivets`,r,amovable carrier, a plurality of removable, equal- Y ly spaced tubesupports on said carrier, adjustanother ltube;support-on the carrier aheaded vtube Supports and holding said length of .tube f -tubepreviously formed, asource otpower, and

andy'ho'lding means, Vsaid head forming means able and removable meansfor `feeding a tubeto Aoriefof the tubesupporvts, means for severing theadvance end of said'tube, laysljustable and remov-V able means forpositioning the previouslyv severed length of tube in another of 'thetube supportsoaud holding said length ci tube .for the; headingoperatiommeans. for forming a head on the tube ylength so held, meansfor ejecting from operative 'dri-ving. connections fromv .said powersource to saidcarrier, said tube feeding means said tube severing means;saidytube positioning.

and holding means, said .head `forming means andfsaid 'ejecting means.,said connections being synchron-ized to Voperate :said several Vmeansyin proper timed relation.' s

